Jesus on justification

Read: Luke 18:9-14

1) Where did Jesus place the scene of this parable?

  • Why in the temple?
    • For what purpose did the Pharisee and the tax collector go there?
    • How did their expectations differ? =>

2) v11: Why did the Pharisee in this parable assume that he had God’s approval and on what basis?

  • Why was the Pharisee convinced that he was not like the “unjust” tax collector?
    • How did the commandments of God promote his self-delusion? cf Ro 7:11

3) Why did Jesus contrast the Pharisee with a tax collector?

  • In v14, the word ‘justified’ derives from the Greek verb dikaioo (lit. to declare righteous). On what basis did Jesus declare the tax collector to be ‘justified’?
  • Read Eph 2:8-9. What proved that the faith of the tax collector was a saving faith?
    • By contrast, what proved that the ‘faith’ of the Pharisee was a faith with no power to save? v9 =>

4) v14: How did the Pharisee ‘exalt himself’?

  • Read Ro 12:3. How did his pride deceive the Pharisee to think of himself more highly than of the tax collector? v9
  • Why does the parable describe the Pharisee as grateful?
    • How does v9 expose his gratitude as falsehood? =>
  • Why could the Pharisee himself not recognize the hypocrisy of his seemingly pious ‘gratitude’?

5) How did the tax collector humble himself?

  • How does this example explain what Jesus means by humility?

6) Whether justification is by faith alone, or somehow by faith combined with works has been at the center of theological controversy for ages. How is that controversy illustrated by this parable?

  • v14: Did Jesus take sides? Why or why not?
  • On a scale of 1 to 10, how much does it matter what we think on this question, according to this parable? Did Jesus regard it as a matter of life and death, or as a theological side issue?
    • Read Mt 5:20. To whom and in what context did Jesus speak there? Why did he describe eternal salvation as an entrance into the kingdom? cf Jn 3:3
    • How can the righteousness of believers be ‘better’ than the one of a Pharisee?
  • Among Protestants who adhere to sola fide (the creed that justification is by faith alone), the sticky question boils down to this: When God justifies believers, is Christ’s righteousness ‘imputed‘ (credited), without any effect on their actual character? Or is it somehow also ‘imparted‘, according to their faith that unites them to Christ spiritually?
    • Picture the two men how each left the temple after prayer: How do you see them changed in any way, for better or worse? [Note: The topic will be further addressed by the following study on sanctification]

7) Personal & application

  • Why is this parable good news?
  • With whom can you identify more easily: The Pharisee or the tax collector? Why?
    • To whom was this parable addressed? v9
    • What is it meant to achieve (or even ‘impart’) in “Pharisees”, and how?
  • In what ways may modern people share the same unbelief as the Pharisee of this parable?
    • How do we seek to justify ourselves nowadays (instead trusting in God’s mercy)?